Most recent public comments by Ladan Daniels https://nowcomment.com/users/90107 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2174312 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2174312 Over the course of this paragraph, Thoreau is encouraging the individual people of the nation to vote. He also talks about minorities, and we can see that this country hasn't really changed, it just looks a little different. But this paragraph states the power of the individual, and that although some people believe votes to be meaningless, collectively they aren't. Sure one vote won't do it, but what about a thousand, or a million, or one-hundred million? That's his point. A key reason I believe this is the most important line of this excerpt is that it applies to the now. Voting is still just as important as it was then, and for many if not all of the same reasons. Thoreau is saying that the first step of a "revolution" is to express your individual voice, and to make it loud. Thu, 29 Oct 2020 20:16:25 -0700 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2174297 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2174297 This is an extremely powerful sentence. Thoreau is stating that, in order for a minority to be heard, it needs to make some noise. The way this relates to Romantic Ideals is that he says a minority is "powerless" while it "conforms" to the majority. This is a statement that is absolutely true and is still important today. Anyone who is of the female sex, isn't white, or identifies with the LGBTQ+ community, is a minority. They are discriminated against by society. Not necessarily by every part or every person in society, but as a whole. And these groups are speaking at high volumes just as Thoreau recommended. And because of all the work they are doing, and how loud they are speaking, by the end of the 21st century there may not be any such thing as minorities in society. Thu, 29 Oct 2020 20:03:28 -0700 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2174277 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2174277 In short, this sentence is basically stating that Thoreau believes that if each individual man speaks up about what type of government he wants, or about what government would "command his respect", that that would be the first step towards putting that type of government in place. He is saying that the voice of the people matter, and will be a key factor in working towards a new and better system. Thu, 29 Oct 2020 19:49:08 -0700 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2174268 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2174268 This sentence is saying basically that the writer believes the less control the government possesses, the better. Yet the first three words, being all capitalized, reflect his tone, which is extremely serious and enthusiastic. Individuality is extremely important to the transcendentalists and they emphasize it proudly. This sentence is also proof of that as seen when Thoreau begins his excerpt in all caps. Thu, 29 Oct 2020 19:42:59 -0700 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2058380 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2058380 I definitely agree. I love how you note that it personifies their feet. It tells us that they were one with the land, and intimately related to it. Fri, 18 Sep 2020 08:14:20 -0700 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2058375 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2058375 I agree, I also believe it gives the effect that most people have forgotten them. Fri, 18 Sep 2020 08:12:12 -0700 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2058373 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2058373 He uses "thrill" kind of in the same way you would use "full", but by saying thrill he let's us know that the memories and events were exciting. Fri, 18 Sep 2020 08:11:12 -0700 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2058370 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2058370 I very much agree. The land is not merely "important", it is "sacred". It gives a whole different level of effect. Fri, 18 Sep 2020 08:09:25 -0700 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2058367 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2058367 His diction using the word ponder is basically saying they will think about it. But it's more serious than that and ponder is a more intense way of saying think. He is essentially saying they will be giving the proposition very deep thought. Fri, 18 Sep 2020 08:08:23 -0700